Power line communication system and method

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a power line communication (PLC) system. For example, the PLC system may include a PLC server configured to provide electrical power and electronic communications through a PLC bus to a number of electronic devices, such as an instrument cluster, infotainment interface, rear-seat entertainment console, aftermarket accessories, and the like. The PLC system may also include a power system that may be coupled to an electrical grid for charging a battery associated with one or more of the electronic devices. The power system may be communicatively coupled to the PLC bus, enabling the devices coupled to the PLC bus to communicate with a service provider through the electrical grid. The communications between the devices coupled to the PLC bus and remote devices coupled through the electrical grid may be conducted using a common communication protocol.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/658,123, filed on Feb. 3, 2010 which is currently under allowance,the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a communication system. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a power linecommunication (PLC) system for a vehicle. In some embodiments, the PLCsystem can optionally be linked with a service provider through anelectrical grid that provides power and electronic communications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart which may be related to various aspects of the present inventionwhich are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Vehicles, such as cars, trucks, SUVs, minivans, and boats, among others,typically include various media systems. For example, a vehicle mayinclude an AM/FM radio, CD player, satellite radio, navigation systems,media players such as DVD players, and the like. Some vehicles may alsoprovide a local area network (LAN) that enables the vehicle tocommunicate with a mobile device, for example, a mobile phone, an MP3player, and the like. However, the connectivity of these various mediasystems is usually somewhat limited. In other words, most of these mediasystems are not integrated with one other, and some media systems maynot be able to communicate with the outside world. Furthermore, theaddition of an aftermarket accessory, for example, a rear-seat DVDplayer, would likely involve an expensive rewiring process to link theDVD player into the vehicular power and communication system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a powercommunication (PLC) system that may include a PLC server configured toprovide electrical power and electronic communications through a PLC busto any number of electronic devices. The system may also include a powersystem coupled to an electrical grid for charging a battery associatedwith one or more of the electronic devices. The power system may becommunicatively coupled to the PLC bus so that the electronic devicescoupled to the PLC bus may communicate electronically with a remoteservice provider through the electrical grid.

In some exemplary embodiments. the PLC server includes a powerconditioner that reduces electrical noise on the PLC bus, therebyeliminating the use of individual power conditioners for each devicecoupled to the PLC bus. The PLC server may also include a PLC couplerthat includes a first communications port coupled to the PLC bus and asecond communications port coupled to a multimedia server.

The multimedia server may he configured to send audio signals to anaudio subsystem configured to provide audio signals to one or morespeakers. The multimedia server may also be configured to receive radiofrequency (RF) signals from an RF subsystem configure to receive RFsignals from at least one of an FM broadcaster, AM broadcaster, digitalradio broadcaster, satellite radio broadcaster, and a global positioningsystem (GPS) satellite. The multimedia server may also becommunicatively coupled to a network gateway configured to providenetwork communications over a local-area network and a wide areanetwork. In some embodiments, the multimedia server may he configured toprovide data communication between the electronic devices coupled to thePLC bus and a remote service provider through the wide area network.

In some exemplary embodiments, the power system may include abi-directional power inverter that includes circuitry configured tooperate in a charging mode and a generation mode. In this embodiment,the power system may also include an energy management system configuredto alternatively switch the bi-directional power inverter between thecharging mode and the generation mode based, at least in part, on datareceived from the electrical grid, such as electricity rates andavailability.

Other exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include amethod of providing electronic communications in a vehicle. Theexemplary method may include coupling a power system of the vehicle toan electrical grid. The power system may be configured to receiveelectrical power from the electrical grid to charge a battery included.in the vehicle. The method may also include receiving electroniccommunications through the electrical grid and transmitting theelectronic communications over a PLC bus communicatively coupled to thepower system.

In such embodiments, the method may include receiving electricity ratesfrom an electrical utility through the electrical grid and switching thepower system to a charge mode based, at least in part, on theelectricity rates. The method may also include receiving travel datafrom an electronic device coupled to the PLC bus, and determining acharge/generation schedule based, at least in part, on the travel data.

In some exemplary embodiments, the method may also includeelectronically communicating with a home network through the electricalgrid. The method may also include receiving digital media from a remoteservice provider through the electrical grid, wherein the digital mediaincludes at least one of a music file, a movie file, and a GPSnavigation map. The method may also include generating a search queryfor a point of interest, transmitting the search query to a remoteservice provider through a wide area network communicatively coupled tothe PLC bus. receiving a location of the point-of-interest from theremote service provider, and displaying the location on a display of aGPS navigation system. The method may also include coupling anaftermarket device to the PLC bus through a PLC port included in thevehicle. The method may also include using an Web browser included inone of the devices coupled to the PLC bus to access an Internet serviceprovider through the electrical grid. In some embodiments, the methodmay include sending data corresponding to serviceable condition of thevehicle from an instrument cluster coupled to the PLC bus to anautomotive service provider through the electrical grid.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include avehicle comprising a PLC bus configured to carry electrical power to aplurality of electronic devices and carry electronic communicationsbetween the plurality of electronic devices. The vehicle may alsoinclude a power system coupled to an electrical grid for charging abattery of the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the PLC bus forproviding electronic communication through the electrical grid betweenone of the plurality of electronic devices coupled to the PLC bus and aremote service provider.

In such exemplary embodiments, the vehicle may also include a powersource configured to power the plurality of electronic devices coupledto the PLC bus and a power conditioner coupled in series between thepower source and the PLC bus and configured to reduce electrical noisein the PLC bus. Furthermore, the power system may include an energymanagement system configured to switch the power system between a chargemode and a generation mode based, at least in part, on data receivedfrom an electrical utility through the electrical grid and travel datareceived from one of the plurality of electronic devices coupled to thePLC bus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the presentinvention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and bebetter understood by reference to the following description of oneembodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle having a system in which a PLCserver is coupled to various vehicle systems and provides power and datacommunication over a PLC bus, in accordance with an exemplary embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system in which a PLC server is coupledto a variety of PLC devices through a PLC bus, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram showing a method for providingelectronic communications in a vehicle, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding, partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting in any mannerthe scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed below. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, not all features of an actual implementation arc describedin the specification. It should he appreciated that in the developmentof any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or designproject, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made toachieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture fir those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a power linecommunication (PLC) system for use in a vehicle. The PLC system mayprovide a unified broadband network that enables a wide variety ofvehicle devices to communicate with one another that have traditionallybeen communicatively isolated. The PLC system may provide direct current(DC) power and data communications to a variety of PLC-enabled devicesthrough a single PLC bus. The PLC bus may include a bulk powerconditioning unit that reduces electrical noise on the bus, and replacesthe power conditioning circuitry that would otherwise be included ineach PLC device separately, thereby reducing the complexity and cost ofthe devices connected to the PLC bus. The PLC bus may also enableaftermarket accessories to be easily and inexpensively added to thevehicle. Additionally, in some exemplary embodiments, the PLC system mayenable various devices in the vehicle to communicate with a serviceprovider through an electrical power grid such as Smart Grid. As usedherein, the term “Smart Grid” is used to refer to an electrical gridthat enables an electric utility to manage power usage of devicescoupled to the electrical grid by communicating with the devices throughthe electrical grid.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of vehicle 10 having a system 100 in which aPLC server 102 is coupled to various vehicle systems 104 and providespower and data communication over a PLC bus 106, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The PLC server 102 mayinclude a PLC coupler 108 that provides electrical power and datacommunications to a PLC bus 106. In some embodiments, the PLC coupler108 may provide 12 volts DC power to the PLC bus 106. The PLC coupler108 may also include a communications port that is coupled to the PLCbus 106 and provides high-speed data transmission over the PLC bus 106,for example, 200 to 400 megabit per second. in some exemplaryembodiments, the PLC coupler 108 may comprise an HD-PLC coupleravailable from various sources including Panasonic Corporation.

The PLC server 102 may also include a multimedia server 110 that iscoupled to a second communications port of the PLC coupler 108 andprovides an interface between the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106 andvarious other vehicle systems, for example, a network gateway 112, an RFsubsystem 114, and an audio subsystem 116. In some exemplaryembodiments, the multimedia server 110 may be a network access server(NAS) that protects the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106 fromunauthorized access. For example, the multimedia server 110 may includea hardware-based or software-based firewall that authenticates datatransmitted to the multimedia server 110 to prevent unauthorized accessto the multimedia server 110 and the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106.

The multimedia server 110 may be communicatively coupled to the PLCcoupler 102 through internet protocol (IP) interface for transmittingdata packets to and from the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106.Communication between the multimedia server 110, the network gateway112. the RF subsystem 114, the audio subsystem 116, and the devicescoupled to the PC bus 106 may be based on any of a large number ofnetwork technologies. The specific network technology chosen for a givenapplication may vary based on design considerations for the specificapplication. By way of example, a universal serial bus (USB) may be usedto carry Ethernet packets containing TCP/IP encoded data. Furthermore,communication between the multimedia server 110, the network gateway112, the RF subsystem 114, the audio subsystem 116, and the devicescoupled to the PC bus 106 may be performed using a single communicationsprotocol.

The network gateway 112 may be used to provide an interface between themultimedia server 110 and other communications networks included in thevehicle such as a local area network (LAN) 118 and a wide area network(WAN) 120. The LAN 118 may enable the multimedia server 110 tocommunicate with various devices in or around the vehicle, such as amobile phone, laptop computer, and the like. The LAN 118 may use anysuitable communications protocol, for example, WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth,and the like. The WAN 120 may be a wireless network that enables themultimedia server 110 to communicate with a remote service provider, forexample, an interact service provider (ISP), a cellular network, and thelike. The WAN 120 may include a modem or any other kind of interfacedevice used for interconnection.

The RF subsystem 114 may be used to receive any type of radiotransmissions. for example. AM radio, FM radio, digital radio, satelliteradio, global positioning system (GPS) signals, and the like. The RFsubsystem 114 may be used to receive music and television broadcasting,road traffic data, location data for use in a GPS navigation system, andthe like. The RF subsystem 114 may be coupled to the multimedia server110 through a serial bus interface such as an Inter-IC Sound (I2S)interface for transmitting audio data and other signals to themultimedia interface 110. The RF subsystem 114 may also be coupled tothe multimedia server 110 through an IP interface, which may be used toreceive control signals from the multimedia server 110, for example,frequency tuning signals, and the like.

The audio subsystem 116 may be used to deliver amplified audio signalsto the vehicle audio system 122, which may include one or more audiospeakers distributed throughout the cabin of the vehicle. The multimediaserver 110 may be coupled to the audio subsystem 116 through a serialbus interface such as an I2S interface for receiving audio data from themultimedia server 110. The audio subsystem 116 may also be coupled tothe multimedia server 110 through an IP interface, which may be used toreceive control signals from the multimedia interface 110, for example,volume, balance, fade, bass, and treble controls, and the like.

The PLC server 102 may receive electrical power from a power source 124included, in the vehicle, for example, a vehicle battery or battery farmin the case of an electric or hybrid vehicle. In some exemplaryembodiments, the power source 124 may provide 12 Volt. DC power to themultimedia server 110 and the PLC coupler 108. Furthermore, the PLCserver 102 may also include a power conditioner 126 to reduce electricalnoise introduced through the power source 124. In sonic embodiments, thepower conditioner 126 may he a coupled in series between the powersource 124 and the multimedia server 110 and between the power source124 and the PLC coupler 108, as shown in FIG. 1. In this way, electricalnoise may be reduced within the PLC server 102. and the PLC bus 106 by asingle power conditioner 126, thereby eliminating the use of additionalpower conditioning units within the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106.The power conditioner 126 may include any suitable voltage regulator andmay include a variety of active and passive components such as one ormore inductors, capacitors, diodes, and the like. The exemplary PLCserver 102 described herein may enable improved connectivity between thevehicle systems 104 and the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106. Forexample, the PLC server 102 and the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106may use a common communication protocol, for example, TCP/IP basedcommunications. Using a common communication protocol enables seamlesscommunications between the vehicle systems 104 and the devices coupledto the PLC bus 106. Further, the use of a high data rate PLC coupler108, such as an HD-PLC coupler, may enable the exchange of large amountsof data, for example, video and audio data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 in which thePLC server 102 is coupled to a variety of PLC devices through the PLCbus 106. As discussed above, in relation to FIG. 1, the system mayinclude a PLC server 102, a variety of vehicle systems 104, and a PLCbus 106, to which various PLC-enabled devices may be coupled forreceiving electrical power and communicating with the PLC server 102.Each of the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106 may include a PLCinterface 202. The PLC interface 202 may he used to separate the datasignals from the DC voltage that powers the corresponding device.

In some exemplary embodiments, a vehicle instrument cluster 204 may becoupled to the PLC bus 106. The instrument cluster 204 may be used toprovide displays and controls pertaining to the operation of thevehicle. For example, the instrument cluster 204 may include displayssuch as a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, engine temperature gauge,and the like. Additionally, the instrument cluster 204 may also includea variety of displays used to indicate serviceable conditions of thevehicle, for example, a “check engine” light, an oil pressure light, andthe like. The instrument cluster 204 may include controls such as acruise control device, vehicle climate controls, and the like. Couplingthe instruments cluster 204 to the PLC bus 106 may enable the instrumentcluster to provide electronic data regarding vehicle conditions to otherdevices coupled to the PLC bus 106. For example, the instrument cluster204 may provide information regarding serviceable conditions of thevehicle, battery charge, vehicle speed, and travel data such as distancetraveled, average speed, gas mileage, and the like.

In some exemplary embodiments, an infotainment interface 206 may becoupled to the PLC bus 106. The infotainment interface 206 may provideany variety of suitable information and entertainment functions. Forexample, the infotainment interface 206 may include a display screen forrendering visual content and an audio system for playing audio content,either separately from the displayed content or as part of anaudio/video program. The audio system of the infotainment interface 206may have a headphone jack to allow content to play without interferingwith other audio that may be playing on the vehicle audio system 122.Controls for the infotainment interface 206 may be built into thedisplay screen, such as controls along the edge of the display screen orthe use of a touch screen. Alternately, the controls for theinfotainment interface 206 may be included in a proximate structure,such as a center console or an armrest, to enable ease of access.

The infotainment interface 206 may include a GPS navigation system.Accordingly, the display may provide a variety of GPS navigation data,such as maps, current location, route guidance, and the like. Theinfotainment interface 206 may also enable the selection of various UPSnavigation features, for example, trip planning, destination entry,point-of-interest searching, and the like. With reference to FIG. 1, theUPS navigation system may communicate with the multimedia server 120though the PLC bus 106 to send and receive a variety of data. Forexample, the CPS navigation system may receive location data from themultimedia server 110. In such an embodiment, the RF subsystem 114 mayreceive satellite signals, which may be converted in to a digital formatand transmitted to the PLC bus 106 through the multimedia server 110.The UPS navigation system may also receive map updates, which may bereceived by the multimedia server 110 through the WAN 120, In someembodiments, the GPS navigation system may enable a point-of-interestsearch which may be transmitted over the WAN 120 to a service providerthat processes the search and returns the requested point-of-interestlocation back to the UPS navigation system.

The infotainment interface 206 may also include a radio system that mayinclude AM, FM, and satellite radio systems. The infotainment interface206 may include one or more optical drives to access information such asnavigational maps, music CDs, DVDs, or writable CD drives, e.g., fordownloading and storing program information, in some embodiments, theinfotainment interface may enable audio and video data to be shared withother devices coupled to the PLC bus 106, for example, a rear seatentertainment console 208. Furthermore, the rear seat entertainmentconsole 208 may communicate with the multimedia server 110 to receivecontent. For example, the rear seat entertainment console 208 may beconfigured to allow passengers to request content from the multimediaserver 110 or a remote service provider through the WAN 120, without theintervention from the vehicle operator.

The infotainment interface 206 may also include a vehicle systemsinterface to access and control various vehicle systems, such as theclimate controls, window defrosting controls, and engine informationdisplays, among others. In some embodiments, vehicle system informationmay be received from the instrument cluster 204, and vehicle systemcommands such as climate control commands may be sent from theinfotainment interface 206 to the instrument cluster 204. Theinfotainment interface 206 may also display video data received from acamera 210. The camera 210 may be located externally at the rear of thevehicle and may be used to provide a view of the rear of the vehiclewhen the vehicle is in reverse. In some embodiments, the infotainmentinterface 206 may also include a Web browser for accessing the Internetthrough the WAN 120.

In some exemplary embodiments an aftermarket accessory 212 may becoupled to the PLC bus 106. The aftermarket accessory 212 may be anysuitable type of electronic device, for example, an additional videodisplay, an MP3 player, a radar detector, a laptop computer, aninteractive entertainment console such as an Playstation®, or Xbox®, aGPS navigator, mobile phone, and the like. The vehicle may include anynumber of ports throughout the vehicle by Which to access the PLC bus106 for instilling the aftermarket accessory 212. in this way, anynumber of the aftermarket accessories 212 may be easily andinexpensively added without extensive rewiring. It should be understoodthat the operations of the system 100 are not limited to these examples.Indeed, the system 100 may perform any number of tasks programmed by theuser or vehicle designer.

In some exemplary embodiments, the system 100 may be included in anelectric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. In such embodiments, thevehicle may include a power system 214 that may be coupled to anelectrical grid 216 for charging of the vehicle battery farm 220. In oneembodiment hereof, batter farm 220 consists of a plurality ofelectrically interconnected batteries. However, it is to be understoodthat battery farm 220 can be alternately configured as a single batteryor as several batteries. electrically connected into in one or moregroups or cells. As used herein, the term “electrical grid” is used torefer to any suitable electrical distribution network provided, forexample, by an electric power utility or other electrical generation anddistribution facility. In some embodiments, the electrical grid may be aSmart Grid that provides electrical power as well as electroniccommunications.

In some exemplary embodiments, the power system 214 may include a powerinverter 218. The power inverter 218 may a bi-directional power inverterthat is capable of operating in a charge mode or a generation mode.During charge mode the power inverter 218 provides AC to DC conversionfor charging the vehicle battery farm 220 from the electrical grid 216.The power inverter 218 may include any suitable rectifier for convertingAC power received from the electrical grid 216 into DC power forcharging the battery farm 220. For example, the power inverter 218 mayinclude a switched-mode power supply, silicon-controlled rectifier(SCR), bridge rectifier, and the like. During generation mode the powerinverter 218 provides DC to AC conversion for generating power to bedelivered back to the electrical grid 216. The power inverter 218 mayinclude any suitable AC inverter for converting the DC power provided bythe battery farm 220 into AC power that may be delivered to theelectrical grid 216. For example, the power inverter 218 may include anSCR inverter, insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) inverter, and thelike.

In some exemplary embodiments, the power system 214 may also include anAC PLC coupler 224 used for sending and receiving electronic datathrough the electrical grid 216. For example. the power system 214 maybe coupled through the electrical grid. 216 to a communications centerof an electrical utility. Data received from the electrical grid 216 maybe transmitted through the power inverter 218 to an energy managementsystem 222 included in the power system 214. The energy managementsystem 222 may include a processor and other circuitry used to switchthe power inverter 218 between charge mode and generation mode. In someembodiments, the energy management system 222 may receive data from theelectrical utility that relates to electrical rates, electricalavailability, and the like. The energy management system 222 may usethis data to determine whether to operate the power inverter 218 incharge mode or generation mode. For example, the energy managementsystem 222 may initiate the charge mode during off-peak electricityusage periods, during which the demand on the electrical grid 216 may belower and the electricity rates reduced. The energy management system222 may initiate generation mode during electrical shortages or duringpeak electricity usage periods, during which the demand on theelectrical grid 216 may be higher and the electricity rates increased.

In some exemplary embodiments, the power system 214 may also be coupledthrough a PLC interface 202 to the PLC bus 106. The power system 214 mayalso include isolation circuitry 226 for isolating the PLC bus 106 fromthe energy management system 222 and the power inverter 218. Forexample, the isolation circuitry 226 may include transformers, low passfilters, and the like. By coupling the power system 214 to the PLC bus106, the energy management system 222 may interface with various otherdevices in the PLC system 100. in some embodiments, the energymanagement system 222 may receive travel data from the instrumentcluster 204 or the UPS navigation system included in the infotainmentinterface 206. For example, the travel data may include a recordeddriving history, for example, information regarding prior trips such asdistance, driving time, electricity usage, average speed, vehicle usageperiods, and the like. The travel data may also include future trips,which may be received from a trip-planning feature of the GPS navigationsystem. The driving history and future trips may be used by the energymanagement system 222 to estimate future energy needs and determine acharging/generation schedule that optimizes energy usage. For example,if the driving history or future trips suggest that the vehicle islikely to use a large amount of electricity, the energy managementsystem 222 may compute a charging/generation schedule that provides afull battery charge when the vehicle will likely to be used. if thedriving history or future trips suggest minimal vehicle usage such asshort trips to and from work, the energy management system 222 maycompute a charging/generation schedule that sells excess stored batterycharge back to the electrical grid 216, for example, during peakelectricity usage periods.

The energy management system 222 may also provide information to devicescoupled to the PLC bus 106. For example, the energy management system222 may provide energy management data to an energy management programincluded in the infotainment interface 206. Using the data from theenergy management system 222, the energy management program may displaya variety of metrics to the user, for example, prior energy usage of thevehicle, battery charge, time and duration of previous charge/generationcycles, the electricity rate applied during the charge/generationcycles, and the like. The energy management program may also enable theuser to view the charging/generation schedule computed by the energymanagement system 222 and manually alter the charging/generationschedule.

In some exemplary embodiments, the power system 214 may enable thedevices coupled to the PLC bus 106 to access service providers throughthe electrical grid 216. For example, the infotainment interface 206 maybe used to access account information from the user's electricalutility. This may enable the user to view an account balance, schedulepayments, and the like. In some embodiments, the infotainment interface206 may enable the user to view a customer service Website provided bythe electrical utility through the electrical grid 216.

In some exemplary embodiments. the infotainment interface 202 may beused to download audio and video media through the electrical grid 216from a service provider such as iTunes®, Netflix®, Blockbuster®, and thelike. For example, the user may use the infotainment interface 206 tobrowse a library of media files available through the service providerand select one or more media files to download. The selected media filesmay then be downloaded through the electrical grid 216, for example,while the vehicle is charging. In some embodiments, the vehicle may becoupled through the electrical grid 216 to the user's home network. inthis way, the user may access media files or other data files stored onthe user's home computer or digital video recorder (DVR), for example.In some embodiments, the devices coupled to the PLC bus 106 may beprogrammed to receive software and firmware updates from a softwaremanufacturer through the electrical grid 216. For example, theinfotainment interface 206 may be programmed to download updated userinterface programs, UPS navigation maps, and the like.

In some exemplary embodiments, vehicle data from the vehicle'sinstrument cluster 204 may be transmitted to an automotive serviceprovider, for example, a selected vehicle dealership, auto mechanic, andthe like. The vehicle data transmitted from the instrument cluster 204may include vehicle malfunctions or other serviceable conditionsdetected by an on-board diagnostics system. The vehicle data may alsoinclude reminders regarding routine maintenance such as oil changes, andthe like. The vehicle data may be used by the vehicle service facilityto alert the owner of the vehicle regarding the need for repair ormaintenance. For example, the vehicle service facility may analyze datareceived from the on-board diagnostics system to determine a possiblemalfunction. Additionally, a vehicle recall may be transmitted to theinfotainment interface 206 from a dealership or a vehicle manufacturer.Messages from the vehicle service facility may be displayed by theinfotainment interface 206. For example, an email message may be sentfrom the vehicle service facility and received by an email client of theinfotainment interface 206.

In some exemplary embodiments, some or all of the electronic datareceived from the electrical grid 216 may be handled by the PLC server102. For example, the multimedia server 110 (FIG. 1) may receive datapackets from the electrical grid 216 and re-route the data to thecorresponding device coupled to the PLC bus 106. In this way, access tothe devices coupled to the PLC bus 106 may be restricted by themultimedia server 110, thereby protecting the devices coupled to the PLCbus 106 from unauthorized access. One or more devices coupled to the PLCbus 106 may receive data from the electrical grid 216 directly. In otherwords, packets may be delivered to and from one of the devices coupledto the PLC bus 106, such as the infotainment interface 206, withoutinvolvement of the multimedia server 110.

The exemplary system 100 provides art in-vehicle network that may couplenumerous vehicle devices through a PLC network and enables the vehicledevices to communicate both internally and with external systems using aconsistent communications protocol. The exemplary system 100 enablesvarious vehicle devices to communicate with any number of suitablecommunications services, media providers, and the like. It will beappreciated that the system 100 functionalities described herein areonly examples, and that a variety of additional features may be providedusing the exemplary system 100 described herein. Furthermore, it will beappreciated that the system 100 described herein can functionindependently, in other words, without being coupled to the electricalgrid 216.

FIG. 3 is a process flow chart illustrating a method 300 for providingelectronic communications in a vehicle, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. The method may begin at block 302, wherein a power system214 of the vehicle is coupled to an electrical grid 216. Coupling thepower system 214 to the electrical grid 216 enables the power system 214to charge a battery farm 220 included in the vehicle. Furthermore, asdiscussed above, coupling the power system 214 to the electrical grid216 may also enable the power system 214 to generate AC power from thevehicle battery farm 220 to sell back to the electrical grid 216.

The process flow may then advance to block 304, wherein electroniccommunications are received through the electrical grid 216. Forexample, as discussed above, the power system 214 may receive electronicdata from a communications center of an electrical utility, a homenetwork, an ISP, an automotive service provider, and the like.

The process flow may then advance to block 306, wherein the electroniccommunications may be transmitted over the PLC bus 106, which iscommunicatively coupled to the power system 214. In some embodiments,the electronic communications transmitted over the PLC bus 106 may beinitially received by the multimedia server 110 (FIG. 1), whichauthenticates the data and re-routes the data to one or more of thedevices coupled to the PLC bus 106.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended tobe limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention isto cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives failing withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power line communication (PLC) system,comprising: a PLC server configured to provide electrical power andelectronic communications through a PLC bus to an electronic device; anda power system coupled to an electrical grid for charging a batteryassociated with the electronic device and communicatively coupled to thePLC bus; wherein the electronic device is configured to communicateelectronically with a remote service provider through the electricalgrid.
 2. The PLC system of claim 1, wherein the PLC server comprises apower conditioner that reduces electrical noise on the PLC bus.
 3. ThePLC system of claim 1, wherein the PLC server includes a firstcommunications port coupled to the PLC bus and a second communicationsport coupled to a multimedia server.
 4. The PLC system of claim 3,wherein the multimedia server is configured to send audio signals to anaudio subsystem configured to provide audio signals to one or morespeakers.
 5. The PLC system of claim 3, wherein the multimedia server isconfigured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from an RF subsystemconfigure to receive RF signals from at least one of an FM broadcaster,AM broadcaster. digital radio broadcaster, satellite radio broadcaster,and a global positioning system (GPS) satellite,
 6. The PLC system ofclaim 3, wherein the multimedia server is communicatively coupled to anetwork gateway configured to provide network communications over atleast one of a local-area network and a wide area network.
 7. The PLCsystem of claim 6, wherein the multimedia server is configured toprovide data communication between the electronic device coupled to thePLC bus and another remote service provider through the wide areanetwork.
 8. The PLC system of claim 1, wherein the power systemcomprises; a bi-directional power inverter that includes circuitryconfigured to operate in a charging mode and a generation mode; and anenergy management system configured to alternatively switch thebi-directional power inverter between the charging mode and thegeneration mode based, at least in part, on data received from theelectrical grid.
 9. The PLC system of claim 1, wherein the electronicdevice comprises a vehicle.
 10. The PLC system of claim 1, wherein thepower system comprises an energy management system configured to switchthe power system between a charge mode and a generation mode based, atleast in part, on electricity rate data received from an electricalutility through the electrical grid.
 11. A method of providingelectronic communications in a vehicle comprising: coupling a powersystem of the vehicle to an electrical grid, the power system configuredto receive electrical power from the electrical grid to charge a batteryincluded in the vehicle; receiving electronic communications through theelectrical grid; transmitting the electronic communications over a powerline communications (PLC) bus communicatively coupled to the powersystem; and receiving electricity rates from an electrical utilitythrough the electrical grid and switching the power system to a chargemode based, at least in part, on the electricity rates.
 12. The methodof claim 11, comprising receiving travel data from an electronic devicecoupled to the PLC bus, and determining a charge schedule or ageneration schedule based, at least in part, on the travel data.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, comprising electronically communicating with a homenetwork through the electrical grid.
 14. The method of claim 11,comprising receiving digital media from a remote service providerthrough the electrical grid, wherein the digital media includes anavigation map.
 15. The method of claim 11, comprising generating asearch query for a point of interest, transmitting the search query to aremote service provider through a wide area network communicativelycoupled to the PLC bus, receiving a location of the point-of-interestfrom the remote service provider, and displaying, the location on adisplay of a navigation system.
 16. The method of claim 11, comprisingcoupling a device to the PLC bus through a PLC port included in thevehicle.
 17. The method of claim 11, comprising using an Web browserincluded in the device coupled to the PLC bus to access an Internetservice provider through the electrical grid.
 18. The method of claim11, comprising sending data corresponding to a condition of the vehiclefrom an instrument cluster coupled to the PLC bus to an automotiveservice provider through the electrical grid.
 19. A vehicle, comprising:a power line communications (PLC) bus configured to carry electricalpower to a plurality of electronic devices in the vehicle and to carryelectronic communications between the plurality of electronic devices;and a power system coupled to an electrical grid for charging a batteryof the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the PLC bus for providingelectronic communication through the electrical grid between one of theplurality of electronic devices coupled to the PLC bus and a remoteservice provider, the power system being configured to switch the powersystem between a charge mode and a generation mode based, at least inpart, on data received from an electrical utility through the electricalgrid and travel data received from one of the plurality of electronicdevices coupled to the PLC bus.
 20. The vehicle of claim 19, comprisinga power source configured to power the plurality of electronic devicescoupled to the PLC bus and a power conditioner coupled in series betweenthe power source and the PLC bus and configured to reduce electricalnoise in the PLC bus.